Derestricted
FTAA.sme/inf/87
August 12, 2003
Original: Spanish
Translation: FTAA Secretariat
FTAA – CONSULTATIVE GROUP ON SMALLER ECONOMIES
CARICOM AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
HEMISPHERIC COOPERATION PROGRAM
PRESENTATION OF PROJECTS
Introduction
- Project title
Spanish, English, and Portuguese language programs and courses
- Background
The main objective of the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas is to increase
trade flows in an environment where different cultures and languages converge.
Greater interaction between the countries of the Hemisphere is imperative
through the greatest possible reduction of existing language barriers in order
to advance the proposed objective.
- Rationale
The experts of the Dominican Republic and CARICOM states working in
trade-related areas need to establish closer ties with experts who work for
current and potential trading partners of the respective CARICOM countries and
the Dominican Republic.
- Objectives of the Project
- General
To implement Spanish, English, and Portuguese language programs that will
help develop our human resources’ language skills so as to ensure greater and
better participation in the hemispheric integration process.
- Specific
- To make available resources or cooperation to organize courses to improve
Spanish, English, and Portuguese language skills (in the case of Portuguese,
basic level courses could also be considered)
- To provide three-month scholarships, as a minimum, to improve knowledge of
Spanish, English, and Portuguese in countries where these are the official
languages.
- Inputs: resources needed for the project
- Provide native speakers
from these countries to teach the Spanish, English, and Portuguese language
courses.
- Scholarships to improve Spanish, English, and Portuguese language skills
through study in countries where these are the official languages.
- Expected results
- Contribution to the development of capacities.
- Enhanced communication and capacity to interact with members of the public
and private sector in the Hemisphere who are involved in the trade negotiation
process.
- Improvement in trade relations with partners in the Hemipshere
-
Other relevant information
- In the case where donors contribute by providing teachers, the recipient
countries would impart courses at various levels and undertake to provide the
appropriate physical infrastructure (classrooms, materials, etc.) in their
respective Diplomatic Schools.
These courses would begin no later than the first quarter of 2003 and would only
be open to persons involved in negotiations and foreign trade. No more than ten
(10) students would be admitted per group.
- To obtain a scholarship, the applicant must already have an intermediate-level
command of the language of study. These scholarships will be channelled through
the Vice Minister responsible for trade negotiations and will be awarded
principally to experts participating in negotiations and institutions or
organizations linked to foreign trade.
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